An anti-corruption campaigner and co-chair of the Citizens Movement Against Corruption, Edem Senanu has criticized the government and the Communications and Digitalization Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, for going ahead to give approval to a company that had registered less than a week prior to the deal to operate a wholesale 5G services in Ghana.
Approval of a 5G service operations was given to NextGen Infraco on August 22, 2023, less than a week after the company registered within Ghana. NextGen Infraco, per the documents available, registered on the 16th of August 2023.
The information released on the social media pages of investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni also showed that the company has been given ten years exclusivity.
Here are some of the details:
Letter from Communications Ministry to National Communications Authority dated March 11, 2024 states;
== “His Excellency the President granted Executive Approval on 22nd August 2023 for the introduction through the establishment of a neutral, wireless open access network to promote a vibrant telecom market in Ghana”
== “I (Ursula Owosu-Ekuful, MP, Minister) reiterate that there will be no auction for 5G Spectrum for the successful implantation of this project to rebalance the industry for the benefit of all consumers. Please proceed to conclude on licensing of the frequencies to Next Gen Infraco.”
Then letter from National Communications Authority to the CEO of Gen Infraco Limited dated the 13th of May, 2024 also gave the following details;
==”We refer to your provisional Authorisation letter numbered NCA/ NGICL/WTL/10 and dated 3rd May, 2024 as well as your letter dated 10th May, 2024, respectively on the above subject.”
The Above subject being “RE: PROVISIONAL AUTHORIZATION FOR WHOLESALE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE (TELECOMMUNICATIONS) PROVIDER LICENSE.”
== “The NCA also confirms that NGICL, shall be given an exclusivity period of ten (10) years as a Provider of the Wholesale 5G Network from the date of execution of the license. NGICL will also have the right to spectrum neutrality for both 4G AND 5G.
In an interview with Beatrice Adu on the Midday News on 3FM, May 30, Edem Senanu said the whole process smacks of some wrongdoing.
“This is another very embarrassing situation. Our procurement laws do not permit single sourcing. There is everything wrong with the substance of the facts. The fact that other players have been brought on board does not take away the fact that clearly due process is not being followed,” he said.
Mr. Senanu added that it is not within the jurisdiction of the Minister to determine that a company should be given exclusivity.
“It is not within the ambit of the Minister that a particular contract should be exclusive. There’s a lot of problem. It is suggestive of something underhand going on. The facts do not support what she (Ursula Owusu-Ekuful) has said”.
The Communications Minister who addressed the press this morning, May 30, 2024 said that Next Gen Infraco was created for this purpose.
“This is a special purpose vehicle and once the government took the decision that we will use a neutral infrastructure company to deliver this service, there is no existing neutral infrastructure company that can deliver it at the moment.”
“So, it had to be specifically formed for the purpose of delivering this service based on the strategic policies and decisions of the government, and it is borne out of our experiences and that is why we chose not to auction it,” she stressed.
The Communications Minister also said that the 5G network would drive economic growth in Ghana and said it would roll out within the next 6 months.
Read also:
We are not aware of any contract with NextGen Infraco for 5G job- Vice Chairman of Comms C’ttee
The post You don’t have power to declare particular contract to be exclusive – Edem Senanu to Ursula Owusu-Ekuful on 5G spectrum deal first appeared on 3News.
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